Upon arrival officers spoke with a 38 year old woman who stated that Darrell Morrison, 29, Pottsville, was inside of the house and kept screaming that he was going to burn the house down. Morrison was located in the back yard are of the home and taken into custody without incident.
The woman told police she and Morrison had been involved in a verbal argument when Morrison grabbed her by the neck and threw her up against a wall and punched her multiple times in the face stating that he was going to kill her.
The female victim stated that she was experiencing severe pain due this attack. She said she had tried to run from Morrison but he had grabbed her and placed her in a choke hold to the degree that it had cut off her airway and almost causing her to lose consciousness. Morrison was still at this point stating that he was going to kill her.
When the woman was able to break free from Morrison she picked up her three year old son and attempted to run out the back door. While she was attempting to leave she had grabbed her phone and attempted to dial 911 at which point Morrison grabbed her by the throat again blocking her airway and did not let go until she agreed to not call the police. Morrison then broke two cell phones so she would not be able to call the police.
Morrison then grabbed his 3 year old daughter, picked her up, and carried her into the kitchen stating that he was going to burn the house down. At which point, Morrison picked up a shower curtain that was in the kitchen and placed it on the stove and turned on the burner to catch it on fire. The woman said Morrison attempted to ignite the shower curtain as well as a towel on the stove.
Police observed evidence of burnt plastic from the shower curtain and a burnt towel on the stove and kitchen floor.
When the woman was able to break free from Morrison she picked up her three year old son and attempted to run out the back door. While she was attempting to leave she had grabbed her phone and attempted to dial 911 at which point Morrison grabbed her by the throat again blocking her airway and did not let go until she agreed to not call the police. Morrison then broke two cell phones so she would not be able to call the police.
Morrison then grabbed his 3 year old daughter, picked her up, and carried her into the kitchen stating that he was going to burn the house down. At which point, Morrison picked up a shower curtain that was in the kitchen and placed it on the stove and turned on the burner to catch it on fire. The woman said Morrison attempted to ignite the shower curtain as well as a towel on the stove.
Police observed evidence of burnt plastic from the shower curtain and a burnt towel on the stove and kitchen floor.
Morrison told Ptlm Braden Jones that he had attempted to burn the house down because "she ruined all of my stuff so I was going to ruin all of her stuff" referring to burning the house down.
Jones completed a criminal complaint charging Morrison with Arson, Recklessly endangering the welfare of a child, aggravated assault, simple assault, strangulation, and recklessly endangering another person.
Jones completed a criminal complaint charging Morrison with Arson, Recklessly endangering the welfare of a child, aggravated assault, simple assault, strangulation, and recklessly endangering another person.
He was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Rossi who set bail at $100,000 straight cash. Morrison was then committed to the Schuylkill County Prison.